Community Corner

Commack School Board to Adopt Budget Thursday

This article was posted by Joseph Pinciaro. It was written and reported by Amanda Lindner.

The Commack School Board of Education is scheduled to adopt the 2013-14 school budget on April 18 at 8 p.m. in the art gallery of the High School.

Currently, the Commack School District is looking at a spending plan of $179,386,921, for the 2013-14 school year, which is an increase of about $8 million from the current year. The proposed spending plan carries a 2.91 percent tax levy, which will result in a tax rate increase between $270 and $280.

Budget to budget, the district is looking to trim about $3 million in its costs from the current school year to the coming one. Some of those reductions include fewer buses for declining enrollment, the eliminate of an elementary lead teacher stipend for arts, a reduction in library monitor and one full-time librarian, the reduction of two full-time nurses, the elimination of five full-time custodians and four clerical staff members. Other reductions include a mental health professional position and consolidation of under-enrolled teams.

While $3 million in cuts are being made, the superintendent said that class sizes would remain about the same as the current year. In addition, he said that students will have the same level of service in all areas including art, music, library, physical education, athletics, co-curricular clubs, assessment and regents prep classes.

Some additions students will see next year will include new computer labs, video conferencing rooms, tablets and e-readers, increased security cameras and security personnel, and new energy efficient equipment, Superintendent Donald James said. All of the technology improvements are funded through legislative grants.

Sparks flew at a budget hearing on April 4 as community members argued that the district needs to be more conservative with what it pays its administrators and employees.  

If the budget fails, additional cuts would likely include cutting athletics, co-curricular activities, all late buses, an additional reduction of library monitors, increased class sizes in Kindergarten through fifth grades, additional nursing staff cuts, full day kindergarten, the eight-period day at the high school and middle school and additional staffing and reductions.

The budget vote will take place May 21.Related:



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